CLINTON, S.C. – The Presbyterian College men’s basketball team earned its third victory of the season with another strong offensive effort, eclipsing the century mark in a 107-63 victory over Johnson and Wales on Thursday night at the Templeton Center in Clinton, S.C. Twelve different players got on the board for PC, who improved to 3-4 on the year with the victory.

Players of the Game

Ed Drew totaled 18 points on a flawless shooting night, as he went 7-of-7 from the field and 4-of-4 from the free throw line in just 13 minutes of game action. Five other Blue Hose would join him in double figures, led by freshman Jo’Vontae Millner with 17 points in 20 minutes of action. Ruben Arroyo (12), Darius Moore (12), Will Adams (11), Reggie Dillard (10) and each totaled at least 10 points in the victory as well.

Stat of the Game

PC shot a season-high 55.9 percent from the field, making 33-of-59 shots, including 11-of-21 from three in the game, also a season-high. The high percentage shooting led to a season-high 107 points, the third most points in the program’s Division I era, as 12 Blue Hose players scored in the game with a season-high six reaching double figures on the night. The 11 three-pointers are the most by a PC team since November 29, 2014 when it also totaled 11 three-pointers against Bob Jones in an 88-39 victory.

How It Happened

The Blue Hose started quickly, jumping out to an 8-2 lead inside the first three minutes of the game. Johnson and Wales would get as close as two in the opening half but PC would start to pull away midway through the opening period, thanks to a 12-2 run that made the score 32-17 at the 7:44 mark. The Blue Hose then went on an 8-2 run later in the half to push the lead as high as 22, before holding a halftime margin of 21 at 54-33. PC shot a red hot 63.0 percent from the field in the first half, connecting on 17-of-27 shots, including 6-of-11 from behind the arc, while making 14-of-17 at the free throw line. Four PC players managed at least eight points in the opening half, led by Millner with 14 points on 5-of-7 shooting.

PC was in control throughout the second half, extending its lead to more than 30 points with a 13-2 run midway through the half, while holding the Wildcats to just one field goal over a five-minute stretch. A 13-1 run later on pushed the lead to 43 points at 92-49 with just over six minutes left in the contest. PC would cruise from there to total a season-high 107 points in the 107-63 victory. The Blue Hose did its best work defensively in the second half, holding J&W to 9-of-25 shooting (36.0 percent) and forcing 11 turnovers. Drew had 10 of his 18 in the second half, while Ruben Arroyo added 10 points in the period.

Notables

- The 44-point margin of victory is PC’s highest since 2014 when the Blue Hose defeated Bob Jones, 88-39, a 49-point margin of victory.

- The Blue Hose went 30-for-38 from the free throw line on the night, 78.9 percent, its best mark in four games. The 30 makes from the charity stripe are a Division I era school record for free throws made. The previous record was 28 free throws made against Longwood in 2014.

- PC forced 17 turnovers in the contest and turned them in to 28 points in the game, its most points off turnovers this season.

- PC scored 54 points in the opening half of tonight’s game. That is its most points in any half since scoring 55 in the second half against Montreat last season. The 21-point halftime lead was its best since leading Toccoa Falls by 23 points at halftime last year.

- The Blue Hose racked up 63 bench points in tonight’s win, likely a Division I era school record.

Up Next

Presbyterian travels to SEC power Tennessee on Tuesday night at 7 p.m. in Knoxville, Tenn.